Golf: What a stocking stuffer!

Richard Dunn

Looking for that perfect Christmas gift? What do you get the spouse

or partner who has everything?

Here in our cozy little world of Newport Beach, there are folks who

struggle with similar questions every holiday season.

But the Hyundai Team Matches Dec. 15-17 at Pelican Hill Golf Club

could offer a few answers.

It is the Ultimate Pro-Am, which includes:

-- Two rounds of golf at Pelican Hill, one on Dec. 14 with a Southern

California PGA professional, another the following day with a pro in the

Hyundai Matches field.

-- A lavish draw party for two at Pelican Hill Dec. 14 and an awards dinner for two after playing 18 holes on Pelican Hill’s Ocean North

course, site of the made-for-TV event which features four teams from each

of the three major tours competing in three separate tournaments.

It is also a true blind draw, where every spot except one (which is

put aside for the title sponsor) is up for grabs. That means someone like

Jack Nicklaus or Tom Watson, Fred Couples or Phil Mickelson, will be

available.

Imagine selecting the Golden Bear’s name? That’ll make your evening a

little more toasty. And you probably wouldn’t sleep much the night

before. It’s not every day you wake up with the notion of playing golf

with Nicklaus at Pelican Hill.

-- Furthermore, amateurs receive 10 general admission tickets to the

event and two clubhouse badges.

The price tag is $6,000.

Tournament director Gary Pollard said he sold two pro-am spots

Wednesday morning and four Tuesday, mostly to corporate executives and

business owners.

“The key is, a lot of people see an event like this and think (the

pro-ams) are sold out and they would never have a chance,” Pollard said.

“But the fact is, aside from some television sponsorship spots, the

pro-am spots are available to be sold in the local market.”

There are 24 pros in the Hyundai field. Maybe you’ll play with Annika

Sorenstam, then get to ask her about last month’s Solheim Cup? Or maybe

Jean Van De Velde, and hear firsthand about the blown three-stroke lead

on the last hole at the 1999 British Open, with memories of the Frenchman

rolling up his pants and trying to hit out of the water?

No matter who your partner is, it is sure to be the ultimate golf

spree. Details: (949) 759-5168.

The Hyundai Matches are way ahead of last year in terms of ticket

sales. Pollard said almost 6,000 tickets have already been sold. Last

year at this time, only about 1,000 tickets were sold.

“I’m thrilled,” Pollard said. “We’re going to have a great event.”

Steve Flesch was announced Tuesday as the final player to join the

field. Flesch of the PGA Tour was selected by Van De Velde to be his

playing partner against Mickelson-Rocco Mediate, Couples-Mark

Calcavecchia (defending champions) and Tom Lehman-Duffy Waldorf.

Tickets for the event are $25 for Friday practice rounds, $35 for

competition Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 16-17) or $65 for a three-day pass.

Call the tournament desk at (949) 759-5175 or Ticketmaster at (877)

484-3014.

Newport Beach Country Club, host site of the Toshiba Senior Classic,

has completed its annual overseeding of the golf course and Director of

Golf Jerry Anderson said Wednesday “it was probably the best ever.”

Course superintendent Ron Benedict and his crew started the

overseeding process the last week of September, and, after the course was

closed for a week, germination of the grass was already evident.

“The golf course is in excellent condition,” said Anderson, whose

staff will host the 2001 Senior PGA Tour event for the sixth straight

year.

In addition to the overseeding, the course has 20 new pine trees,

mostly on the front nine.

“Those trees will have an affect on play in a few years,” Anderson

said. “Even though they’re decent size now, it takes a few years to grow

up and block some shots.”

Anderson also said 632 palm trees were trimmed throughout the golf

course.

Players in the $1.4 million Toshiba Classic field will be playing the

reconstructed No. 18 for the first time Feb. 26 through March 4.

Mounds behind the green have been built and a slope in front will make

approach shots more difficult.

Newport Beach Country Club assistant pro Bruce Hooper shot par-72 in

the Southern California PGA Pro-Pro Series at the Legends course Tuesday

and tied for first place, winning $631. He shared the lead with Tom

Brennan of Mission Viejo and Paul Holtby of Golden Tee.

Richard Dunn’s golf column appears every Thursday.